Cardigan – courtesy of Merc Clothing
Lace collared Tunic – Topshop
Belt – Primark
Leggings – H&M
Ankle Socks– Topshop
Hair Bow – Primark (Pack of 2)
A few weeks ago I was contacted by a lady called Rebecca, who was working for a company called Merc Clothing. She informed me that their ladies line is very much “This Is England” inspired, and that she thought it might work well in my wardrobe.
Obviously, if I responded to every PR email I receive, compared to the amount I post at the moment (bad blogger!) I’d never do anything except sponsored posts. That’s why I think it’s important to pick your endorsements carefully, and as I say in my disclaimer, only champion products you believe in. I had a look around the website and after viewing the collection – and falling in love with the polo dress, reminiscent of my Year 5 discos – I decided I’d be very much interested in writing about Merc here at A Storm in a Teacup. So when Rebecca asked if I’d be interested in road testing a cardigan, I jumped at the chance.
We had a few problems with the Royal Mail, so I didn’t end up receiving the cardigan until last week, and I was away in Leeds. I’ve only had the chance to wear it a few times, and today is the first day I’ve photographed it.
The cardigan is a blue “Maria”, pictured on the left above. I believe it also comes in grey with a pink piping and black with a white piping. My first reaction upon seeing the range was that it was a little pricey for me, considering the clothes are very clean looking and simple. As a student, this isn’t really something I’d consider because I’d be scared off by the price tag (£65 for a Maria cardi). However, the cardigan is 100% wool, which is worth considering in these cold winter months! It felt very lightweight when I opened the package, and if I'm honest, I had little hope of it insulating me against the cold. However, I slipped it on straight away, and I could automatically feel the quality on my skin. The fabric is silky, and the piece is cut in a way that is figure hugging and flattering, but doesn’t feel as though it’ll lose its shape or easily bobble. In short, it sort of feels expensive. It feels great to wear and actually really locks heat in. I’ve found it to be almost as warm as the chunky knit I bought from Topshop a few weeks ago, which is considerably thicker.
I was sent a medium, which is realistically the size I would buy in the shops. As I’ve said before, I have a medium to large chest so usually I don’t button to the top. However, in trying to recreate the This Is England look, I’ve been experimenting with that and have found that the cardigan is stretchy enough not to gape too much around the buttons on the chest.
If you pop back in a few days and I’ll be showing you 3 different ways to wear Merc, from day to night. I’ll be showing how easily I’ve slipped this into my wardrobe and how I style it up and down.
Big love! <3
